🙏 Complete in Christ: Confronting the Church’s Identity Crisis, False Gospels, and Whole‑Life Discipleship

Key Points

• Pastor opened with a reading from Colossians chapter 2 verses 1 through 10, highlighting that in Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
• The biggest crisis facing the 21st century church today is not finances, membership, or the devil, but rather an identity crisis where believers don't know who they are.
• Identity crisis occurs because the church seeks people instead of God, and when you seek people you get lost because they are lost themselves.
• Many believers have embraced the prosperity gospel as the true gospel, but there is only one gospel which is the gospel of Jesus Christ, and God wants a relationship first before prosperity.
• Believers' words have power to bless or curse them, and while demons cannot possess believers, they can influence, oppress, and harass believers when doors are opened through contradicting God's word.
• According to Colossians chapter 2 verse 10, believers are complete in Christ who is the head of all principalities and powers, questioning what devil they should be afraid of.
• Jesus' last command in Matthew 28:20 was to teach disciples to observe all things He commanded, where observe means to keep, watch, and preserve as a lifestyle regardless of circumstances.
• Many marriages in the church are dying because pastors preach about money and health instead of teaching God's word, leading to covenant violations and demonic influence in homes.
• Noah preached the same message about the coming flood for 120 years, illustrating that repeated messages indicate God is trying to get people's attention.
• Halloween teachings and discussions about LGBTQ issues shouldn't even need to be taught in church because believers who know the Bible already understand what's right and wrong.
• Identity crisis manifests as a period of confusion, doubt, insecurity, anxiety, and uncertainty, contradicting 1 Corinthians 14:33 which states God is not the author of confusion but of peace.
• Many people die in ministry because they operate outside their divine calling, as ministry is not a career but a divine calling that cannot be self-appointed.
• According to 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, believers' bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and were bought with a price, meaning they must glorify God with their bodies which belong to Him.
• Physical health issues including mood swings, depression, anxiety, and sleep problems can result from low vitamin D levels and poor lifestyle choices rather than spiritual attacks.

Summary

Church Identity Crisis and Spiritual Knowledge

• The church faces its biggest crisis in the 21st century which is not financial, membership, or devil-related issues but rather an identity crisis where believers don't know who they are in Christ

• Knowledge is power and believers must understand their true identity to avoid being bound by ignorance and deception
• Peter's confession of Jesus as the Son of God came through seeking the Father in prayer rather than seeking people for answers
• Churches today seek people instead of God, leading to confusion and lost direction among congregants

False Teachings and Prosperity Gospel

• False teachings threaten the church similar to how they threatened the church in Colossae, prompting Paul's letter to remind believers of their true calling

• Prosperity gospel has been indoctrinated into many believers' minds, causing them to seek God for wrong motives like material blessings rather than relationship
• God wants relationship first and will provide attitude adjustment before material blessings
• Believers approach God with terms and conditions that benefit them rather than surrendering to His will

Spiritual Authority and Demonic Influence

• Believers are complete in Christ who is head over all principalities and powers, yet many live in fear of demons despite their authority

• Demons cannot possess believers but can influence, oppress, and harass them when doors are opened through contradicting God's word
• Believers' words have power to bless or curse them, and speaking against God's will sets them up for failure
• Identity crisis leads to questioning God's word and prophetic promises over their lives

Biblical Commands and Lifestyle Preservation

• Jesus' last command was to teach disciples to observe all things He commanded, with "observe" meaning to keep, watch, and preserve God's commands as a lifestyle

• Maintaining God's commands is not optional but required regardless of circumstances or feelings
• Believers must preserve God's word in their homes by refusing to allow cursing, negativity, or out-of-character behavior
• Memory loss regarding past declarations and vows leads to current predicaments and opens doors for demonic influence

Marriage and Communication Crisis

• Many marriages in the church are dying because pastors preach about wealth instead of addressing relationship crises and teaching God's word

• Couples communicate through social media even while in the same house, showing complete detachment from reality
• Violating marriage vows and threatening divorce opens doors for demons since covenants with God involve life and death consequences
• Churches entertain the flesh instead of addressing real issues affecting families and relationships

Accountability and Church Discipline

• The 21st century church is too passive and lacks proper discipline, unlike previous generations where accountability was maintained

• Believers need to be held accountable for their actions and words, including fulfilling commitments and maintaining respect
• Disrespect through ignored calls, texts, or broken promises should be addressed directly rather than overlooked
• Church people act inappropriately because they haven't received proper correction or discipline for their behavior

Divine Calling and Ministry Dangers

• Ministry calling is divine rather than a career choice, and people cannot call themselves to pastoral, apostolic, or prophetic roles

• Taking on ministry roles without God's calling leads to death and destruction as seen in examples of ministers who died from operating outside their lane
• Staying within God's assigned lane and calling is essential for survival and effectiveness in ministry
• Many people in ministry positions are sitting in the wrong seats and will face consequences for operating without divine authorization

🙏Complete in Christ: Confronting the Church’s Identity Crisis, False Gospels, and Whole‑Life Discipleship

Physical Health and Spiritual Wellness

• Believers' bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and don't belong to them, requiring respect and proper care through rest, vitamins, and healthy lifestyle choices

• Many spiritual issues are actually physical problems caused by vitamin deficiencies, poor sleep habits, and unhealthy living
• Low vitamin D levels cause mood swings, depression, anxiety, and sleep problems that get misdiagnosed as spiritual attacks
• Proper medical care, exercise, nutrition, and rest are important for effective ministry and spiritual life

Time Management and Spiritual Priorities

• Believers waste time on foolishness instead of focusing on their divine purpose and spreading God's word while on earth

• Prayer life must be taken seriously with daily Bible reading and seeking God's understanding of scripture
• Building dependency on God rather than people is essential for spiritual growth and effectiveness
• Time is limited and should not be wasted on activities that don't contribute to God's kingdom purposes

Next Steps

• Believers must develop a clear understanding of their identity in Christ through serious prayer and daily Bible study

• Churches need to return to preaching God's word instead of prosperity messages and address real issues affecting congregants' lives
• Proper discipline and accountability must be restored in church communities to maintain respect and order
• Physical health and spiritual wellness should be prioritized through proper self-care and lifestyle choices